TRIP NOTES BELIEVE ACHIEVE INSPIRE GREAT WALL DISCOVERY CHINA Mon 22 May Wed 31 May 2017
OVERVIEW GREAT WALL DISCOVERY CHINA 2 In aid of HIT Scotland 22 May 31 May 2017 10 DAYS CHINA CHALLENGING Originally constructed to defend China against the nomadic tribes, the Great Wall is a thrilling challenge of twists, turns, ups and downs. Beginning 4 hours north of Beijing, our challenge takes us on a serious of vigorous upwards climbs of over 10,000 relentless steps over the course of a week. As the days progress we follow the winding path along the mountains that spread either side of the Gubeikou Gateway. Exhaustion will quickly vanish as we are rewarded with sweeping views over the vast mountain ranges. Conquer the imperial masterpiece of the Ming dynasty Test yourself against thousands of challenging steps Triumph over the crumbling, twisting pathways of the Yan Mountains Savour the timeless landscapes and time weathered watchtowers Enjoy the cultural highlights of China's bustling capital city
ITINERARY GREAT WALL DISCOVERY CHINA 3 YOUR CHALLENGE DAY BY DAY DAY 1 Mon 22 May Day 1: International departure from Glasgow The longawaited journey begins at the airport where the group will meet with a Charity Challenge representative for the first time. Any last minute nerves or anxieties will fade away as you fly off for your exciting adventure along China s Great Wall. DAY 2 Tue 23 May Arrival Beijing and transfer to the Wall area Touching down in Beijing, the group will be greeted by a local Charity Challenge guide who will oversee the long transfer to the hotel in the mountainous area surrounding Beijing. Do your best to battle jetlag as today is a great opportunity to explore your new surroundings. The group will get together for a first team meal, as well as a briefing about the challenge ahead. Don t forget to ask any last minute questions. Overnight at the Yunhu Resort. dinner in the hotel. DAY 3 Wed 24 May Jinshanling Loop (approximately 56 hours) And we re off! After a short drive, we will catch our first glimpse of the magnificent Great Wall before starting off on our first climb on the iconic pathway. Today s route includes parts of the original wall with steep, crumbling staircases and watchtowers. As the wall snakes along the horizon, we will be treated to panoramic views of up to 80 miles of mountains. With Mongolia on one side and China on the other, be sure to take time to soak up your surroundings. The endless steps will have taken their toll, so we ll head to the William Edgar Hotel, overnight in a Water town restaurant. DAY 4 Thu 25 May Gubeikou Gateway (approximately 78 hours) After a successful first day it s a short transfer to begin what will be our longest trekking day, beginning from a nearby village. On slightly less than fresh legs, you ll need to dig deep to overcome the long and demanding Gubeikou section. Hopefully the buoyant team morale and impressive views will help you rise to the challenge. We descend off the wall through rugged farmland, before going back up for the renovated Jinshaling section and ending the trek where we began yesterday. Expect to end the day feeling worn out but overwhelmingly proud of your achievement. At the end of your trek you'll transfer to the Kempinski Yanqi Lake Hotel. DAY 5 Fri 26 May Mutianyu section (approximately 5 hours) Emotions are bound to be mixed as we set off for our biggest battle yet: the Mutianyu section. Take a transfer to the village of Xizhazi, where the day s trek begins. From here it s onwards and upwards towards the tower of Zhenbeilou, which is quite literally the pinnacle of the challenge. Prepare for a tough final stretch upwards to the
ITINERARY GREAT WALL DISCOVERY CHINA 4 tower, after which comes the reward of the incredible vistas. From here it s a twohour trek to Mutianyu, a much visited section of the wall but certainly worthy of a few pics. What goes up must come down, so be ready for hundreds of steps down to the waiting coach to the School House. An old elementary school later refurbished to a cool and unique gardenlike campus. DAY 6 Sat 27 May Huanghuacheng (approximately 5 hours) After the efforts of the previous three days, it s an hour s transfer to the village of Xishuiyu, where we begin trekking the Huanghuacheng section of the wall. Often described as the most exciting part of the itinerary by former participants, the main obstacle of the day is the overgrown and uneven path that involves some elements of scrambling. The morning is spent battling steep descents and narrow paths, before eventually reaching a paved part of the wall after lunch. Spirits will be high as we enjoy the magnificent views over the Xishuiyu reservoir below. It s not time to relax just yet, however, as there s a steep descent down to the final watchtower. The group will be transferred to the Commune Hotel for your overnight stay. Dinner will be at a local restaurant. DAY 7 Sun 28 May Badaling Great Wall (approximately 45 hours) What a week! After a short drive, you will catch your final glimpse of the magnificent Great Wall from the vehicle before starting off on a steep and challenging climb along a rough and uneven path. This section of the wall has been recently renovated and so you will face a mixture of thin, uneven steps and sloped concrete sections. The final descent is short but very steep, with a slope rather than steps, and will test tired limbs. Your hard work will be rewarded with spectacular views and a well deserved lunch. Once down at the vehicle and en route, the bus may stop at either a silk or jade factory as it heads back to Beijing. Overnight at the Red Wall Garden hotel. Dinner at a local restaurant. DAY 8 Mon 29 May Day 8: City tour of Beijing After all that hard work, the group can now enjoy a half day exploring China s capital city. including the Temple of Heaven, where you can see the locals practicing their morning sports. Overnight at the Red Wall Garden hotel. DAY 9 Tue 30 May Day 9: City Tour, dinner then retun flight After a final breakfast together you will continue with a guided tour including the Old Imperial Palace known as the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, after dinner you will head for the airport for the flight back to Glasgow. Armed with a sense of achievement, you can feel proud as you touch down and share your fantastic journey with your family and friends. DAY 10 Wed 31 May
ITINERARY GREAT WALL DISCOVERY CHINA 5 arrival back into Glasgow Your return flight takes you via Dubai to arrive back into Glagow by 12:25hrs NB This itinerary may change depending on accommodation availability. We occasionally run our Great Wall challenge in reverse, which means that you will complete all of the days of trekking given here but in a different order. We will do our very best to keep to the set itinerary; however we cannot be held responsible for any last minute changes that might occur. In all such circumstances, your expedition leader will have the final say. Should you suffer from vertigo, it is worth considering that on most mountain treks there will be occasional exposure to sheer drops. Therefore you should discuss the particular itinerary of your choice with a member of our team.
COST GREAT WALL DISCOVERY CHINA 6 HOW TO FUND YOUR CHALLENGE SELF FUNDER Pay a registration fee of 475.00 when you book Then a balance of 1725.00 (8 weeks before your challenge) Raise as much as you can for your charity. WHAT'S INCLUDED Before you go 15% off Cotswold Outdoor, Cycle Surgery, Snow and Rock, and Runners Need Support materials (itinerary, kit list, fact file, Q&As, health notes, travel tips, responsible travel policy and guidance) AZ of fundraising ideas Template press release Sponsorship forms (online and hard copy) Fitness training notes 16 and 20 week trek/bike training schedule Warm up exercise routines Access to training weekends (optional and at additional expense) Access to "ask the expert" re your kit requirements Discount on personal equipment from The Outdoor Shop, Outdoorhire, Cotswold Outdoor and Nomad Travel Stores Public liability insurance Risk assessment and emergency management planning Access to your own password protected account including support materials and training schedules Fundraising advice On your challenge International flights to and from the UK (including all known UK air taxes, and fuel surcharges, at the time of costing) A contribution towards funding the reduction of carbon emissions through Climate Care s portfolio of award winning projects A Charity Challenge TShirt All challenge management before, during and post event Activity equipment such as bikes, tents and rafts as per the challenge activity Full backup support including firstaid qualified staff and firstaid supplies All ground staff including English speaking guide, drivers, cooks, and porters Entrance fees to national parks or other places of interest visited on the itinerary Drinking water on challenge days Three meals a day (unless otherwise stated in the itinerary) Accommodation during the challenge (usually in twin share) Internal road and air transfers as per the itinerary A donation to a community project in one of the countries in which we operate WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED Before you go Travel to and from the UK airport of departure Visa Vaccinations (please check Trip Notes for requirements) On your challenge Tips Departure Tax (if applicable) Personal spending money Any other specific items listed as not included in
COST GREAT WALL DISCOVERY CHINA 7 Travel Insurance (you can buy at time of booking or in your Account Area, or provide your own policy details) Clothing and equipment listed on your Kit List THE DETAILS your Trip Notes Fundraising deadlines You will need to send your sponsorship money to the charity as you raise it. At least 80% of the minimum sponsorship required must be sent to the charity 10 weeks before departure (by 13/03/2017), and the remaining 20% within 4 weeks of completing the challenge (by 28/06/2017).If you have raised the necessary funds, the charity will then pay the balance of your challenge costs. The charity benefits by keeping the remaining sponsorship money and every pound over and above that you raise. Prices include all known air taxes We include ALL known air taxes (including fuel) at the time of costing. Many companies do not include air taxes at all, and clients are therefore hit with a surcharge of three or four hundreds of pounds just before departure. If the air taxes increase between the time of costing and your departure, we will absorb up to 50 (depending on the challenge) before passing on any increased costs. Our aim is to provide you with transparent pricing and clear instructions as to what is included in our prices and if applicable what isn't. Typical group size The typical group size is 20 30 participants Small group supplement The costs and sponsorship levels on our website are based on a minimum of 20 participants. This is payable by your charity if you book under the Minimum Sponsorship or Flexi options, and by yourself if you choose the Self Funder option. We will notify you 12 weeks before departure if this is necessary.
COST GREAT WALL DISCOVERY CHINA 8 Optional extras Trek/bike training weekends* Extensions at end of trip* Single room supplements* Travel insurance Business class upgrades* (*subject to availability) Travel insurance We can provide a comprehensive travel insurance policy for this challenge which provides cover for medical (emergency, evacuation and repatriation), cancellation and curtailment and specifically covers the activities undertaken during the challenge. You can take this out when booking. The cost is 76.
EXTENSIONS GREAT WALL DISCOVERY CHINA 9 TERRACOTTA WARRIORS 475.0 Hop aboard the overnight train from Beijing to Xian to visit the Terracotta Warriors. Undiscovered until 1975, this 6,000 strong army of soldiers, warriors and horses is definitely worth exploring. Then it s time to put your feet up as we settle down to watch the Tang Dynasty show, an evening of music and dancing. Registration fee 50.0 Balance 425.0 Single Room 65.0 WARRIORS & PANDAS 699.0 After exploring the Terracotta Warriors, fly to Chengdu to meet China s cuddliest residents. Spend time at the Giant Panda Research Base, before returning to Beijing and eventually heading home. Registration fee 50.0 Balance 649.0 Single Room 110.0
INFORMATION GREAT WALL DISCOVERY CHINA 10 Level of Difficulty The Great Wall Discovery challenge is graded as challenging. This is the perfect challenge for participants who are of an adventurous spirit and an open mind, but perhaps haven t taken on a strenuous challenge event before and are hoping to push themselves out of their comfort zone. You can tell your supporters that on your Great Wall Discovery Challenge you will be: Trekking for around 47 hours per day, covering approximately 50kms over 5 days. Continually hiking up and down thousands of stairs. Battling the heat on exposed sections of the wall. Temperatures can reach the mid 20s. Trekking on unrenovated sections of the wall, with crumbling steps, shrubbery and rocks underfoot, and steep stair climbs. Taking on sections at height with drops at either side. Staying in basic lodges each night. Money Currency: The currency in China is the Yuan. For up to date currency exchange, go to www.xe.com. We recommend exchanging currency before you go; however there are ATM s and currency exchanges available at Beijing airport. You can only convert 100 Yuan notes (around 10 GBP) back in the UK, so make sure that you spend any extra change. Credit Cards: Cards are not accepted at the lodges along the route of the wall, therefore you should have sufficient currency with you before leaving the airport. ATMs: You will have no access to ATMs the days that you will be trekking but once back in Beijing you are able to withdraw cash if needed. How much to bring: All accommodation and meals are included within the price of the trip, as well as water during the days of your trek. You will not need to carry a lot of money with you during the challenge, but as there are daily opportunities to buy soft drinks, alcohol and snacks on the Wall we would suggest a maximum amount of about 15 a day (in Yuan). Bring more if you intend to buy souvenirs and take up the opportunity of the additional tours offered by the guides. You may have the opportunity of visiting an acrobat show (around 20) and enjoying a relaxing posttrek massage (about 25) on your return to Beijing at the end of the trek. The guides will also offer you the opportunity to purchase a CD souvenir of group photos (around 20), traditional name chops and other items. There are plenty of great souvenirs in China so do keep that in mind! Tipping: Tipping is at your sole discretion and all staff are paid a fair wage. However, tourism is a tipping culture, and Chinese guides will generally receive a tip at the end of a job well done. If you choose to tip, we would suggest an amount of 35 per participant for the duration of the challenge (around 350 Yuan). For those on Charity Challenge organised extensions, we would suggest between 5 and 6 per person per day. Visa UK Citizens DO require a visa to enter China. You cannot obtain visas upon entry to China. We will supply you with the relevant form and application advice three months prior to departure, and if you would like to start having a look at the information you can visit the Chinese Visa Application website by clicking here. However, you should not
INFORMATION GREAT WALL DISCOVERY CHINA 11 apply before 3 months prior to departure due to the validity of the visa. The cost of the Chinese visa vaires quite frequently but as of August 2016 for a single entry visa the cost is GBP175 for a UK passport holder. You will need to attend the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre yourself to process your application or apply by post, which costs extra. Prices are subject to change by the Chinese Embassy and will be confirmed upon your application. Your passport must have at least six months to run from the end of your challenge and one blank page for your visa. Vaccinations For up to date vaccination information please check the NHS Fit for Travel website: http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/home.aspx. Although the Charity Challenge team are travel professionals, they are not medical experts and we would encourage you to visit your GP or travel nurse to discuss vaccination requirements. Your GP may ask questions about the specific locations that you are visiting in China, and as such it may be useful to take a copy of your itinerary with you. Flights You will be flying from Glasgow to Beijing. is approximately 1416 hours if indirect. Your flight tickets will be issued to you upon departure at the airport. If you choose to book your own flights please confirm with the Charity Challenge office first, otherwise you may be liable for your included group flights (please contact flights@charitychallenge.com for further assistance). For more general flights questions, please refer to our main FAQs page. Insurance It is a condition of booking that you have a suitable travel insurance policy whilst participating on the challenge. We have a special policy which covers among other things, medical (emergency, evacuation and repatriation) arrangements, cancellation and curtailment of the challenge, and more specifically for the adventurous activities undertaken on this challenge. If you have your own travel insurance policy, you must ensure that it provides at least the same level of cover as our recommended policy, including protecting the charity in the event of your cancellation 56 days or less prior to departure. If you choose not to purchase our recommended policy when you book we will send you a disclaimer which you should complete and return. On Day 7 of your Great Wall Discovery itinerary there is the opportunity to ride on a toboggan run at the end of your day s trek. Please note that, if you choose to ride the toboggan, you do so at your own risk and you will be not covered if you have taken out Global Travel Insurance as recommended by Charity Challenge. We strongly discourage using the toboggan run and cannot vouch for its safety. Your decision to ride the toboggan should take this into account. For more general travel insurance questions, please refer to our main FAQs page. Group Size
INFORMATION GREAT WALL DISCOVERY CHINA 12 Each group is intended to be 20 people minimum in order to run and a maximum of approx. 30 people. We will be able to run this challenge for 10 to 19 people by charging a small group supplement of 75 which will be added to your final balance invoice (self funders) or charged to your charity (minimum sponsorship or flexi). Leadership There will be an Englishspeaking challenge leader who will be responsible for the logistics and coordination of your challenge. There will also be numerous local support staff to assist them. The challenge leader will be ultimately responsible for the running of the itinerary and the safety of your group. Climate China has the same seasons as the UK, but much more pronounced. April and May are the spring months, and as such the trees are blossoming there are plenty of flowers around, which may affect hayfever sufferers. In September/October, the trees are losing their leaves and the Wall is surrounded by vibrant oranges and russet colours. Both seasons are incredibly beautiful. April/October will be much colder than May/September, although in all months you may experience wind chill up on the ridges of the Wall, and heat in the valleys. The nightly temperatures will be cold, particularly in April/October, and temperatures may drop to around 5 degrees. Warm layers will be necessary for the evening, but in the day you can expect to reach temperatures of around 20 degrees in early April/late October, and around 28 degrees in late May/early September. Like the UK, the weather is changeable, and these are rough guidelines. Terrain The route is mountainous and the wall involves a trek incorporating thousands of steps up and down. There are also steep drops either side of the wall so please take this into account if you suffer from vertigo. Some areas of the Wall are completely unrenovated, and so you may be trekking up some overgrown, crumbly paths in your quest to conquer the Wall! Luggage allowance and valuables The luggage allowance will depend on the airline we are using for your challenge, but in general it will be one piece of checked baggage at around 23kg. However, we suggest that for our Great Wall challenge you should only need around 15kg17kg. If you don t need it, don t bring it, is a good rule. For any valuables, safe deposit boxes are usually provided in Beijing for guests use in the hotels, but will not be available in the local lodges. Use a padlock on your luggage when in transit to reduce any risks. Carry your passport with you and make sure you have a photocopy of your documents (travel insurance etc.) in case they get lost or damaged. Responsible Tourism At Charity Challenge we are committed to sustainable and responsible tourism, and work closely with bodies such as the International Porter Protection Group and Climate Care to ensure that our challenges benefit the local
INFORMATION GREAT WALL DISCOVERY CHINA 13 environments and communities in which they take place. We ensure that all rubbish is disposed of responsibly, and following local guidelines on cultural and environmental protection and respect, we aim to limit our impact on the natural environment. In addition to taking these practical steps to ensure that our challenges are sustainable, we also make a contribution each year to a number of local community projects, so as to give something back directly to the communities that we visit. Since 2000 we have donated almost 200,000 to such projects, supporting a range of initiatives, including schooling for children in Africa, shelter for street children in Brazil, and Orangutan conservation in Indonesia. We recommend that any gifts brought over for children are given to the UK challenge leader and distributed where needed by them and our local Ground Agent. If you wish to do more, you should consider buying drinks, postcards and souvenirs from the local vendors. For many, it is their sole source of income. For more information, please visit our Responsible Tourism pages, where you will be able to view a list of the projects that we currently support. Typical day You will wake at around 7am, have breakfast, make your packed lunch and pack your daypack for the next section of the walk. You will be given enough water for the day and your packed lunch to carry. The rest of your luggage will be transported for you to the next destination. At around 8.30/9am we will begin the day s walk, stopping for lunch at a scenic spot on the wall around midday. You will be walking for 47 hours each day and arriving in the late afternoon at your next accommodation. Specific hours of activity for each day are given in the itinerary. Accommodation On the Wall you will be staying in accomodation chisen specifically for this group. Yunhu Resort William Edgar Hotel The School House Kempinski Hotel Mutianyu The Commune Red Wall Garden Hotel for 2 nights Food & Drink Food is basic but filling. In recent years, breakfast has become more westernised, with eggs, tomato and cucumber, as well as cooked meats. Lunch will usually be a sandwich along with nuts, snacks and fruit. Dinner will consist of Chinese dishes and of course rice or noodles. There will, of course, be vegetarian options provided, although the choice is more limited. It is important that you eat as much as possible during the trekking phase in order to replace body salts lost due to increased perspiration. All participants but especially those with personal eating restrictions should bring snacks to supplement their meals. You may also wish to bring additional treats like
INFORMATION GREAT WALL DISCOVERY CHINA 14 marmite, peanut butter etc. as you will be eating Chinese food everyday this can become monotonous for even the most adventurous eater!! The tapwater is not safe to drink. Bottled water will be provided during the trekking sections, and you can buy bottled water or soft drinks in hotels and lodges for meals (around 5 Yuan, or 50p). Please let Charity Challenge know prior to departure if you have any specific dietary requirements or allergies. Clothing and equipment Good quality, durable kit could mean the difference between a fantastic challenge experience and an uncomfortable one. For this challenge, waterproof, wellworn in boots will be indispensable, particularly coupled with some really good quality walking socks. The benefits of a comfortable day sack cannot be underestimated, so make sure that you train with this. Other essentials are a high quality goretex waterproof jacket and technical/wicking tshirts rather than cotton shirts. Walking poles are also highly recommended, as the steps on this challenge are very tough on even the fittest knees, and descents can be tricky. A full kit list for this challenge can be found here, and once you book you will have access to kit discounts with our partners The Outdoor Shop, Outdoorhire and Cotswold Outdoor. Toilets These range from very basic ( communing with nature on the trek itself) to normal western standards in the accommodation. There will be ensuite toilet and washing facilities at the hotels and lodges; however, depending on the season hot water may be limited in some of the lodges along the wall. Phone and WiFi Most of the accommodation you are in will have limited WiFi which you will be able to use, but please do not rely upon this. Facebook and any Googlebased applications (including Gmail) are blocked in China, so you will not have access to these sites or be able to post updates for your friends and family. You will have phone signal in almost all places on the challenge. Safety Charity Challenge considers the safety of all of our participants and staff to be a top priority, and as such we have set up Challenge Safe, one of the most advanced and thorough safety management systems in the industry. Challenge Safe formalises our ethos when it comes to safety, and brings together the procedures and risk management strategies that we use to audit all aspects of our challenges, from vehicles to accommodation to the challenge activity itself. Your welfare is absolutely paramount! In terms of your Great Wall Discovery challenge, there are a couple of important points that you should be aware of: The wall is very exposed, with almost no shade, and on sunny days the temperatures can soar. You should ideally be wearing a sun hat, sun cream, and hydrating constantly! Some areas of the wall are very remote, with no car access, and emergency evacuation may take up to 4 hours. However, there are several escape routes off the wall and the nearest medical facilities will be by
INFORMATION GREAT WALL DISCOVERY CHINA 15 stretcher and then vehicle. Certain sections are unrenovated, with crumbling and uneven terrain, and some sheer drops at either side. Your leader will help you get through these sections if you have a fear of heights! Smoke alarms are not a legal requirement in China, and as such many of the lodges we use do not have them in place. Your leader will explain the emergency fire procedures to you. On the final day of the trek there is the opportunity to ride on a toboggan run on the wall. Charity Challenge strongly discourages the use of the toboggan run, and if you choose to do so this will be at your own risk. Also be aware that the Charity Challenge travel insurance policy will not cover you for this specific activity. Emergencies The event is not run as a race and there is always a large discrepancy in people s walking abilities. This is allowed for. There will be a staff member at the back of the group at all times to ensure that you are not left behind and can take things at your own pace. In the event of an emergency on the Wall, all guides and leaders are maintaining contact via radio, and the backup vehicle will not be far away. If somebody is unable to walk at all, then the guides will arrange evacuation off the Wall to the vehicle. Training Training and fitness is definitely required. It is important that you work specifically on your stamina, leg and joint strength, and balance in order to get as much out of the challenge as possible. You will be trekking up and down thousands of steps so climb stairs as often and wherever you can! The trek takes place in a mountainous environment, so the best training advice is to get outdoors into some of the mountains of the UK to familiarise yourself with walking on rugged terrain, while carrying weight in your daypack. You need to be able to sustain around 47 hours of trekking for 5 continuous days, so if you can then replicating this over a weekend would be fantastic training. You can also look to join one of our training weekends. Training weekends We offer superb training weekends across various locations in the UK, from Saturday morning to Sunday afternoon. These training weekends not only help you become physically prepared for the challenge, but our experienced instructors and leaders will talk you through your clothing and equipment, camp craft, health and wellbeing, trekking skills (walking on different terrain/at altitude/at night/using walking poles), teamwork on expedition and many more themes designed to make you get the most out of your challenge. The weekends are great ways for you to get out into the mountains of the UK, while also meeting other Charity Challengers and sharing your experiences. To read more about our training weekends, including dates and prices, check out our dedicated page.
Any more questions? Contact us: + 44 (0)20 8346 0500